HOME Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani has said the current probe on Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata is meant to establish whether he lied that he has never been convicted of any criminal offence when he declared his candidature for Republican presidency on three occasions.

Mr Mangani said although the incident could have occurred a long time ago, it was important to know whether Mr Sata had told the truth when he declared that he had never been convicted of any offence when filing nominations for the presidency.

He said in an interview yesterday the matter was now of public interest because information had surfaced that Mr Sata had allegedly committed a criminal offence when he was jailed at Bwana Mkubwa Prison.

Mr Mangani said people such as those who allegedly shared jail cells with Mr Sata who were volunteering could not be ignored.

He said the investigation should not be misconstrued as victimisation but a quest to find out the truth.

Mr Mangani said the relevant authorities had intensified the probe on the allegations that Mr Sata was once jailed after he had committed a criminal offence.

He said once the relevant authorities concluded Investigations, the nation would be informed of the outcome and then the Zambians will decide on what action to be taken on the matter.

Former freedom fighters Jackson Ngoma and Dingiswayo Banda both testified that Mr Sata was once incarcerated for a criminal offence, which he committed when he was still serving as a police constable in the Northern Rhodesia Police Force.

[Times of Zambia]

OPPOSITION Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has disowned its leader Edith Nawakwi over her continued attacks on President Rupiah Banda.

FDD vice president Chifumu Banda said yesterday in an interview that Ms Nawakwi’s attacks on President Banda were her personal views and did not represent the party’s position.

“You can ask senior leaders in the party or the national policy committee. Those views do not represent the views of the party,” he said.

Mr Banda said although people had a right to express their views, the FDD always had a clear position on national issues.

“Those views are hers and do not represent FDD members or the party position,” he said.

He said he did not discuss other people’s utterances because people could not tell the difference between him and other people.

“You know I am a lawyer and I know that every person has a right to express himself or herself,” he said.

The FDD vice-president said even if he had his personal opinion and the fact that he chose to keep quiet did not mean that he did not hold any views.

And FDD national youth chairperson Levy Ngoma said he would issue a statement on the matter today.

Mr Ngoma said he was scheduled to meet Ms Nawakwi last evening before he could issue a statement today.

Ms Nawakwi has in the recent past launched an aggressive attack on President Banda raising concerns in the MMD ranks and the public.

She has recently condemned President Banda’s trip to China and alleged that the president was leading the country on a path of economic disaster.

The opposition leader has also been reported to have attacked President Banda saying most clinics in Lusaka had no medicine and the situation was deplorable.

She has also been quoted as saying that without her support in the 2008 elections, Mr Banda could not have been elected as president.

But many MMD sympathisers have said that Ms Nawakwi was a job-seeker who wanted President Banda to appoint her to a Government position even when there was no need.

[Times of Zambia]

Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader, Edith Nawakwi has vowed not to succumb to the intimidation of the ruling MMD following her sustained criticism of president Rupiah Banda and his government.

Ms Nawakwi said in an interview she would continue to be critical of the MMD leadership style.

The FDD leader described Vice president George Kunda’s remarks and for the African institute of democracy and good governance as empty for alleging that she has failed her party and members were calling for her removal.

Ms Nawakwi said it is clear that the ruling MMD has been threatened by her stability in leadership and the heat is too much for them to handle.

She said the assertions by Mr.Kunda that her party members would soon be petitioning her are false and only go to show that the MMD has started to porch some of her party members to destroy her political career.

She accused the ruling party of sponsoring a few members in the FDD who might rise against her and call for her to step down.

QFM

THE MMD in Mufumbwe has castigated North-Western Province MMD youth chairman Newton Malwa for asserting that the party will lose in the Mufumbwe by-election if it adopts Ambassador Mulondwe Muzungu as its candidate.

Mufumbwe MMD chairman Samola Kayombo said in a statement yesterday that although the party has not yet announced its candidate for the by-election, Mr Muzungu’s capacity to win the seat is unquestionable.

“Any sincere member of the MMD should know that Mr Mulondwe Muzungu is a force to reckon with not only in Mufumbwe Constituency but the entire province. If he was adopted to contest the seat, the MMD would scoop it without difficulty,” Mr Kayombo said.

He said Mr Malwa’s assertion in Friday’s edition of The Post newspaper that Mr Muzungu, who is the country’s ambassador to Libya, would lose the Mufumbwe seat to United Party for National Development (UPND)’s Elliot Kamondo if adopted, is misplaced.

Mr Kayombo said it is wrong for Mr Malwa to compare Mr Muzungu’s influence and popularity in the district to that of Mr Kamondo whom he alleged is a political novice.

He cast doubt on the genuineness of Mr Malwa’s membership of the MMD, because of the assertion, which he said should not have been made, as the MMD has not announced its candidate.

Mr Kayombo said Mr Malwa’s assertion is understandable as he has never been to Mufumbwe and that he does not understand the politics of the district.

He said the MMD is the only party in the district with a large following.

Mr Kayombo said the MMD in Mufumbwe will not allow squabbles that could divide the party.

He said the party is following President Banda’s efforts of reconciliation and unity within the MMD.
Mr Kayombo said Mr Malwa should be reprimanded for not following MMD procedures on making press statements.

He said the MMD in Mufumbwe is more united than ever before and stronger than the UPND.

Mr Kayombo said this is because people in the district appreciate the development which they have seen under the MMD.

He said Mr Banda should be assured that the MMD will scoop the Mufumbwe by-election.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Former Defence Minister George Mpombo has described the decision by the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC)to suspend him as energizing.

Mr. Mpombo who is MMD Kafulafuta Member of Parliament says he is not shaken by the suspension and that he will not be threatened by the party’s action against him.

Asked on whether he will abide by the ten day ultimatum in which to exculpate himself, Mr. Mpombo says he will only comment after studying the suspension letter. The MMD has suspended Mr. Mpombo on four
charges.

Meanwhile, MMD National Chairperson, Michael Mabenga has confirmed Mr. Mpombo’s suspension saying it is long overdue. He says some members of NEC advised Mr. Mpombo to tone down on his attacks on the Republican President Rupiah Banda, but to no avail.

MUVI TV

United National Independence Party (UNIP) will not join the Red Card Campaign being spear headed by the civil society because the objective is not clear, party secretary-general Jemima Banda has said.

And UNIP has advised all peace-loving Zambians to be alert all the time as Zambia heads to the polls next year because there are organisations that will be paid just to cause confusions.

In an interview yesterday, Ms Banda also warned UNIP members countrywide not to be swayed into joining the Red Card Campaign because the party suspected the campaign was aimed at disrupting the peace of the country.

Ms Banda said Zambians should be alert and worried about campaigns that had no clear agenda. She said UNIP had joined in the anti-third term campaign because it was aware the Constitution only allowed two terms but this was not the case with the Red Card Campaign.

Ms Banda said her party would continue to criticise the Government in areas of poverty, education and unemployment until the situation was improved, as the best way to make the Government work and not causing disunity.

Times of Zambia